LHDA to protect Lesotho’s cultural heritage

Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) has sought the services of PSG Heritage Solutions to come up with a thorough cultural heritage plan aimed at managing and protecting the country’s rich cultural heritage in the course of constructing and operationalising the second phase of Lesotho Highlands water project.

The work of PSG heritage solutions will be to promote and protect the sites and artifacts that make up the cultural heritage of Lesotho which comprises burial sites; Stone Age occupation sites, that are majorly in rock shelters, and settlements with a history as long as the Iron Age, many of them still occupied; rock art; that preserves the country’s oral history as well as creating and increasing awareness in the national cultural heritage.

According to the CE of the LHDA, Mr Refiloe Tlali, the authority aims at complying with the internationally accepted and recognised practices in maintaining the country’s cultural heritage and implementing the plan while consulting and welcoming the participation of the local communities and encouraging Lesotho’s expertise in cultural heritage.

In line with UNESCO conventions

The plan for the cultural heritage will be drafted in accordance with the nations cultural heritage legislation and the practices of the International Centre for the Study and Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1975) organizations where Lesotho is a signatory.

The team from PSG heritage solutions based in South Africa comprises partners based in Lesotho and will be promoting the development of Basotho nationals in the field of cultural heritage management and archaeology.

The range of services the company will provide will include a review and update of the country’s cultural heritage inventory which mainly include the polihali reservoir, coming up with mitigations steps by recording, mapping and excavation, and giving a description of the country’s intangible cultural heritage that comprises archival research and living history.